Adjsutable oscillating lawn sprinkler



. 1963 l. RINKEWICH 3,073,532

ADJUSTABLE OSCILLATING LAWN SPRINKLER Filed Aug. 31. 1960 2 Sheets-Shoot1 ISAAC R/NKEWICH tum/W A TTORNE vs Jan. 15, 1963 I. RINKEWICHADJUSTABLE OSCILLATING LAWN SPRINKLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31,1960 INVENTOR. ISAAC R/NKEW/CH A TTURNEYS United States Patent 3,073,532ADJUSTABLE GSCILLATING LAWN SPRINKLER Isaac Rinkewich, Brooklyn, N.Y.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to International Patent Research (Iorp,New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Fited Aug. 31, 1960, Ser. No.53,297 Claims. (Cl. 239-242} The present invention relates to anoscillating lawn sprinkler in which means are provided for controllingboth the angular location and angular extent of the sprinkler unit,thereby to control the area sprinkled thereby.

Oscillating lawn sprinklers comprise a sprinkler unit to which wate isfed and from which water is ejected, the unit beingdriven in oscillationabout an axis, thus distributing the sprinkled stream of Water over anappreciable area. In most cases, and as here specifically disclosed, thedriving'means for the sprinkling unit is powered by the Water which isfed to the sprinkler unit itself. In the past sprinklers of this typehave been provided with means for adjustably controlling the oscillatingmovement of the sprinkler unit in order to vary the area sprinkledthereby. The adjustment mechanisms involved have comprised linkagesinterposed between the driving means and the sprinkler unit, the partsof which can be relatively adjustably positioned. These linkages werenecessarily exposed in order to permit adjustment thereof, and theadjustment is effected at a point remote from the sprinkler unit itself.

Several disadvantages inhere in that type of arrangement. The linkagesmust be exposed in order to make them accessible for manual adjustment,but in being exposed they impart to the sprinkler a cluttered and onattractive appearance. Because the linkage is exposed it is subject todamage through mishandling, and it is further subject todeterioration'through exposure to the sprinkled Water and to dirt.Because the parts of the linkage which are moved to effect theadjustment are remote from the sprinkler unit itself the correlation oflinkage adjustment to area sprayed is rather complex in nature and oftenconfusing to the user, and in addition the point of adjustment is oftenrelatively inaccessible. In addition, it has been found that when theparticular part that is moved to effect adjustment of the linkage isitself a part of that linkage, the force exerted thereon in carrying outthe adjustment often results in damage to the individual links and tothe joints between the links.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide anoscillating lawn sprinkler which is not subject to the abovedisadvantages. To that end the adjustable linkage is adapted to becompletely enclosed within the housing on which the sprinkler unit ismounted and which contains the driving means for the sprinkler unit andthe means for conveying water thereto. An adjustment means is mounted onthe sprinkler element, preferably in a concentric manner, for movementtherewith, that adjustment means extending into the housing and beingoperatively connected to the adjustable driving linkage. In this way avery convenient dial-type control is provided which is readilyaccessible for manipulation and which is easily manipulated to producethe desired type of sprinkling action. Since the adjustable linkage isitself contained within the housing, it is protected against damage anddeterioration. The sprinkler presents a neat and uncluttered appearance,permitting the application thereto of modern designs, and there are novisible mechanical parts which detract therefrom.

More specifically, the linkage between the sprinkler unit and thedriving means includes an arm normally movable with the sprinklerunitbut pivotally adjustable aerasaz Patented Jan. 15, 1963 relativethereto, the arm being connected, at a point remote from the axis aboutwhich it is pivotally adjustable, to a linkage connecting it with thedriving means. The adjustment means is also mounted on the sprinklerunit, is normally movable therewith as it oscillates, and is adjustablypositionable relative thereto. The adjustment means is operativelyconnected to the aforemen- 1 tioned arm so that as the adjustment meansis positioned relative to the sprinkler unit, the arm is correspondinglypositioned. Different positions of the armwill vary both the angularextent of oscillation of the sprinkler unit and the angular location ofthe oscillatory sector relative to the axis about which the sprinklerunit pivots. A detent means is active upon the adjustment means, andthrough that adjustment means upon the arm, to releasably retain thoseelements in their adjusted position. Thus the relative position of theadjustment means relative to the sprinkler unit will determine thenature of the oscillatory movement of the unit. Selection of a desiredtype of oscillation can be facilitated by providing' cooperating indiciaon the exposed portion of the adjustment means and on the sprinklerunit.

Through the use of the arrangement of the present invention aninexpensive'oscillating mechanism is provided which is considerably moresturdy and reliable than the structures of the prior art.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as mayhereinafter appear, the present invention relates to an oscillating lawnsprinkler having adjustable mechanism for moving the sprinkler unit inoscillation, as defined in the appended claims, and as described in thisspecification, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmented view of the sprinkler of FIG. 1 on an enlargedscale, certain parts thereof being broken away and cross sectioned;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 47 are progressive views showing the manner in which the sprinklerunit is oscillated by the driving means for one of the operativepositions of the adjustable arm carried by the sprinkler unit;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is a graphical representation of the difierent types ofoscillatory movement of the sprinkler unit for different operativepositions ofrthe adjustable arm carried thereby.

As here disclosed the oscillating lawn springler of the presentinvention comprises a base 2 in the form of tubular skids connected toone another at one end by a raised portion 4 and having a housing 6mounted thereon at the other end. The sprinkler unit itself is in theform of a tube 8 pivotally mounted at one'end inplate 10 carried by theraised portion 4 of the base 2 and pivotally mounted at its other end,at 12, in wall 14 which divides the housing 6 into chambers 16 and 18.The left hand end of the tube 8, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, is closedby plug 20, its right hand end is open to the chamber 16, and it isprovided along its length with a plurality of apertures 22 through whichwater can escape. A fitting 24 extends through the rear wall 26 of thehousing 6 into the chamber 16, the fitting 24 being adapted to have ahose attached thereto, water passing through the fitting 24 beingdirected against the waterwheel 28 rotatively mounted within the chamber16 on shaft 30. A worm 32 rotates with the waterwheel 28, and isoperatively connected, by means of a worm wheel 34 and a second worm 36,with worm wheel 38 mounted on shaft 40. The. shaft 40 is journaled inthe wall 14, sealingly extends therethrough into the chamber 18, andthere has a crank arm 42 made fast thereon.

The front wall 44 of the housing 6, which defines the left side of thechamber 18, is provided with an aperture 46 through which the tube 8extends with appreciable clearance. Mounted on the tube 8 where itpasses through the front housing wall 44 is a sleeve 48 which is madefast with the tube 8 so as to rotate therewith as by means of the keyareas 50. That portion of the sleeve 48 which is received within thechamber 18 carries a plate 52 on which meshing gears 54 and 56 aremounted, the gear 54 being mounted on shaft 55 and the gear 56 beingfast on shaft 58 which extends through the plate 52. Arm 60 is fast onthe shaft 58 and is located on the opposite face of the plate 52 fromthe gear 56. A link 62 is pivotally connected to the arm 60 at 64, andis pivotally connected to the crank arm 42 at 66.

Mounted on that portion of the sleeve 48 which passes through theaperture 46 in the housing wall 44 is an adjustment member 68, which maybe in the form of a plastic sleeve. It passes fairly snugly through theaperture 46 but is freely rotatable therein. It is provided on thatportion thereof within the chamber 18 with gear teeth 70 which mesh withthe gear 54. That portion thereof which is exposed outside the housingwall 44 is provided with an axially inwardly extending aperture 72within which spring 74 and detent ball 76 are housed, the detent ball 76selectively cooperating with apertures 80, 82, 84 and 86 formed on thefacing surface of a ring 88 fixedly secured to the sleeve 48. The ring88 may be provided with an index pointer 90 adapted to cooperate withindicia appropriately located on the adjustment member 68 andsequentially movable into registration with the index marker 90 as theadjustment member 68 is moved relative to the sleeve 48 and thesprinkler tube 8 from one detented selection position to another.

The wall 14 which subdivides the housing 6 into the chambers 16 and 18is held in place by a plurality of screws 91 or other appropriatesecuring means, and packing 92 is interposed between the wall 14 and theouter portion of the housing 6 in order to seal the chambers 16 and 18from one another and thus prevent the water which flows through thechamber 16 from entering the chamber 18.

When the sprinkler is to be used a hose is connected to the fitting 24,and when water is caused to pass through that hose it enters the housingchamber 16, moves into the pipe 8, and is expelled from the openings 22therein in the form of a fine stream or spray. The water, in moving fromthe fitting 24 to the tube 8, is forced over the waterwheel 28, thusdriving the crank arm 42 in rotation. The linkage defined by the link 62and the arm 60 causes the plate 52 to oscillate, the sprinkler tube 8and the adjustment member 68 oscillating therewith. The oscillation ofthe tube 8 causes the angular position of the holes 22 to vary about theaxis of rotation of the tube 8, thereby directing the stream of wateremanating therefrom over a predetermined area of the ground on which thesprinkler rests.

The crank arm 42 driven by the water wheel 28 rotates uniformly, at aspeed determined by the rate of flow of water through the hose. It isdesired, however, to be able to adjust the oscillatory movement of thetube 8. This is accomplished, according to the present invention, byshifting the position of the arm 60 relative to the plate 52. The arm 68is connected, by means of shaft 58, gear 56, and gear 54, to theadjustment member 68. As a result shifting of the relative position ofthe adjustment member 68 with respect to the sprinkler tube 8 willresult in a corresponding shift in the position of the arm 60 relativeto the sprinkler tube 8, the cooperating selection positions of theadjustment means 68 and the operative positions of the arm 60 beingdetermined by the cooperation between the spring urged detent ball 76and the apertures -86 associated therewith. For example, when theadjustment member 68 is so positioned relative to the sprinkler tube 8that the detent ball '76 is in the aperture 80, the arm 60 may assume acorresponding operative position here shown as extending from the axisof its shaft58 toward the axis of rotation of the sprinkler tube 8 (itwill be appreciated that this position is selected merely for purposesof illustration). With this position of the arm 68 relative to the tube8, as the crank arm 42 is rotated clockwise from its position shown inFIG. 4 through its positions shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to its positionshown in FIG. 7, the plate 52, with respect to which the arm 68 is heldstationary, will be driven in oscillation, and the sprinkler tube 8fixed thereto will be correspondingly oscillated. For the particularposition of the arm 68 shown in FIGS. 4-7 the plate 52 and tube 8 willbe oscillated through an angle of approximately degrees, the tube 8being so oriented relative to the plate 52 that this oscillation takesplace 45 degrees to either side of a vertical plane through the axis ofoscillation of the tube 8.

if new that portion of the adjustment member 68 which extends out beyondthe front wall 44 of the housing 6 is grasped and rotated relative tothe sprinkler tube 8 so that the detent ball 76 moves out of the opening80 and into the opening 82, the arm 68 will be rotated relative to theplate 52, about the axis of the shaft 58, to a position approximately 90degrees clockwise from its position shown in FIG. 4. With the arm 60 inthat operative posi' tion a complete rotation of the crank arm 42 willimpart an oscillatory movement to the plate 52 which has an arcuateextent of approximately 45 degrees and which is substantially the sameas the left hand half of the arcuate movement of the plate 52 shown inFIGS. 4-7.

If the adjustment member 68 is again rotated relative to the tube 8 sothat the detent ball 74 enters the opening 84-, the arm 60 will assume aposition relative to the plate 52 approximately degrees clockwise fromthe position shown in FIG. 4. For this position of the arm 60 the plate52., and hence the sprinkler tube 8, will be 05 cillated over an arcconsiderably smaller than that shown in FIGS. 4-7, such as approximately30 degrees, but sub stantially centered relative thereto.

If the adjustment member 68 is further rotated relative to the sprinklertube 8 so that the detent ball 76 enters the apertures 86, the arm 68will be rotated clockwise for approximately another 90 degrees, nowextending to the left from the axis of the shaft 58 as viewed in FIG. 4,and for this position of the arm 69 relative to the plate 52 and thesprinkler tube 8 will be oscillated over an ap proximately 45-degree areapproximately corresponding to the right hand half of the arc ofoscillation disclosed in FIGS. 4-7.

Thus the detent apertures 80, 82, 84 and 86 will correspond respectivelyto a full oscillation of the tube 8 to either side of a vertical planepassing through the axis of oscillation of the tube 8, an are extendingsubstantially only to the left of that vertical plane, an arc ofrestricted extent substantially centered with respect to that verticalplane, and an arc exending substantially only to the right of saidvertical plane. These arcs are illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 9,the numbers at the ends of the arcuate arrows in that figurecorresponding to the detent apertures respectively associated therewith.

It will be understood, of course, that once the adjust ment member 68has been moved to any given selective position relative to the sprinklertube 8 it will thereafter oscillate with the sprinkler tube 8, thedetent action on the adjustment member 68 which normally holds it inposition relative to the sprinkler tube 8 also causing the arm 68 toremain in its adjusted position relative to the tube-carried plate 52.

The adjustable linkage which permits controlled variation in theoscillation of the sprinkler tube 8 is contained;

within the housing 6, and therefore is protected from in:

, jury, from the spray which emanates from the sprinkler, and from dirtand the like. The wall 14 within the housing 6, together with thepacking 92, insulates it from the water which is fed to the sprinklertube 8. It therefore will remain in efficient condition, will be securedagainst mishandling, and will be protected against harm of any kind. Theonly element which is exposed for manual manipulation, the sleeve member68, is supported by the tube 8 and by the sleeve 4-7 so that it can onlybe manipulated in proper manner, to wit, rotation about the sleeve 48.The particular type of manipulation to which it is susceptible isconvenient, and very easily and intelligibly related to the type ofoscillating movement desired for the sprinkler tube 8, as by the visualcooperation between the index marker 99 on the ring 88 and theappropriate indicia inscribed on the sleeve and adapted to be broughtinto registration with the index marker 9% for each of thedetent-controlled selection positions of the member 623. The parts aresturdy, need not be manufactured to any high degree of precision, andare readily available.

The housing 6 may be designed as desired, the adjustment.

member 63 may have an appearance cooperating with the design of thehousing 6, and the mechanical connections which cause the sprinkler tube8 to oscillate are hidden from view and therefore will not detract fromthe overall appearance of the sprinkler.

It will be appreciated that the precise operative positions of the arm69 relative to the plate 52 in order to produce the types of oscillationabove set forth will be determined by the relative locations of thevarious parts of the linkage and that the arcuate extent and preciserotational positions of the arcs of oscillation will be determined bythe relative lengths of the arms 42 and 60 and the link 62, all inaccordance with elementary design considerations.

While but a single embodiment of the present invention has been herespecifically disclosed, it will be apparent that many variations may bemade therein, all within the spirit of the invention as defined in thefollowing claims.

I claim: I

1. In a lawn sprinkler comprising a base, a unit pivotally mounted onsaid base, driving means for said unit, and an operative connectionincluding an adjusting means between said driving means and said unitfor causing said unit to pivot in a controllably adjustable manner; theimprovement which comprises a housing connected to said base, an elementconnected to said unit and extending into said housing, said adjustingmeans mounted concentrically on said element, adjustably rotatablerelative thereto and received at least in part in said housing, saiddriving means being in said housing, said adjusting means beingoperatively connected to said driving means for varying the pivotalmovement of said unit in accordance with the rotative position of saidadjusting means relative to said element.

2. The oscillating lawn sprinkler of claim 1, in which said drivingmeans comprises a rotated driving member connected by link means to apart operatively connected to said unit, normally fixed relativethereto, but movable relative thereto between a plurality of operatingpositions, said operating connection between said adjustment means andsaid driving means comprising means operatively connected between saidadjustment means and said part for selectively locating said part in adesired one of its operating positions.

3. The oscillating lawn sprinkler of claim 2, in which said part isoperatively connected to said unit and is rotatable about an axisrelative to said unit between its operating positions and is pivotallyconnected to said link means at a point remote from said axis, saidmeans operatively connecting said adjustment'means and said part causingrotation of said part about said axis upon movement of said adjustmentmeans relative to said unit.

4. In a lawn sprinkler comprising a base, a unit pivotally mounted onsaid base, driving means for said unit, and an operative connectionincluding an adjusting means between said driving means andsaid unit forcausing said unit to pivot in a controllably adjustable manner; theimprovement which comprises a housing connected to said base, an elementconnected to said unit and extending into said housing, said adjustingmeans mounted on said element adjustably positionable relative thereto,in part extending beyond and in part received in said housing, saiddriving means being in said housing, said adjusting maens beingoperatively connected to said driving means for varying the pivotalmovement of said unit in accordance with the positioning of saidadjusting means relative to said element.

5. The oscillating lawn sprinkler of claim 4, in which said drivingmeans comprises a rotated driving member connected by link means to apart operatively connected to said unit, normally fixed relativethereto, but movable relative thereto between a plurality of operatingpositions, said operating connection between said adjustment means andsaid driving means comprising means operatively connected between saidadjustment means and said part for selectively locating said part in adesired one of its operating positions.

6. The oscillating lawn sprinkler of claim 5, in which said part isrotatable about an axis relative to said unit between its operatingpositions and is pivotally connected to said link means at a pointremote from said axis, said adjustment member being rotatable relativeto said unit, said means operatively connecting said adjustment meansand said part causing rotation of said part about said axis uponrotation of said adjustment means relative to said unit.

7. In a lawn sprinkler comprising a base, a unit pivotally mounted onsaid base, driving means for said unit, and an operative connectionincluding an adjusting means between said driving means and said unitfor causing said unit to pivot in a controllably adjustable manner; theimprovement which comprises a housing connected to said base, an elementconnected to said unit for movement therewith and extending into saidhousing, said adjusting means mounted concentrically on said element,adjustably rotatable relative thereto, and in part extending beyond andin part received in said housing, said driving means being in saidhousing, said adjusting means being operatively connected to saiddriving means for varying the pivotal movement of said unit inaccordance with the rotative position of said adjusting means relativeto said element.

8. The oscillating lawn sprinkler of claim 7, in which said drivingmeans comprises a rotated driving member connected by link means to apart operatively connected to said unit, normally fixed relativethereto, but movable relative thereto between a plurality of operatingpositions, said operating connection between said adjustment means andsaid driving means comprising means operatively connected between saidadjustment and said part for selectively locating said part in a desiredone of its operating positions.

9. The oscillating lawn sprinkler of claim 8, in which said housing hasa pair of chambers water-sealed from one another, one of said chambersdefining a flow path for water to said unit, said adjustment means, saidrotated driving member, said link means, said part operatively connectedto said unit, and said means operatively connected between saidadjustment means and said part being located in the other of saidchambers.

10. The oscillating lawn sprinkler of claim 8, in which said part isrotatable about an axis relative to said unit between its operatingpositions and is pivotally connected to said link means at a pointremote from said axis, said adjustment member being rotatable relativeto said unit,

said means operatively connecting said adjustment means and said partcausing rotation of said part about said 7 3 axis upon rotation of saidadjustment means relative to 2,914,255 Jepson Nov. 24, 1959 said unit.2,921,474 Ballard Jan. 19, 1960 I Reeeeeeeee Ceeee ie the file ef eeee21312132? iiiiin'jjjijjijjjjjijjjj 5331i, 1323 UNITED STATES PATENTS 52,521,490 Strauss Sept. 5, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,886,250 Smith et a1May 12, 1959 252,070 Italy Feb. 19, 1927

1. IN A LAWN SPRINKLER COMPRISING A BASE, A UNIT PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ONSAID BASE, DRIVING MEANS FOR SAID UNIT, AND AN OPERATIVE CONNECTIONINCLUDING AN ADJUSTING MEANS BETWEEN SAID DRIVING MEANS AND SAID UNITFOR CAUSING SAID UNIT TO PIVOT IN A CONTROLLABLY ADJUSTABLE MANNER; THEIMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A HOUSING CONNECTED TO SAID BASE, AN ELEMENTCONNECTED TO SAID UNIT AND EXTENDING INTO SAID HOUSING, SAID ADJUSTINGMEANS MOUNTED CONCENTRICALLY ON SAID ELEMENT, ADJUSTABLY ROTATABLERELATIVE THERETO AND RECEIVED AT LEAST IN PART IN SAID HOUSING, SAIDDRIVING MEANS BEING IN SAID HOUSING, SAID ADJUSTING MEANS BEINGOPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID DRIVING MEANS FOR VARYING THE PIVOTALMOVEMENT OF SAID UNIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ROTATIVE POSITION OF SAIDADJUSTING MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID ELEMENT.